About Us

Mission 360 was founded by two FIDE Masters Kevin Pan and Eric Li in 2021 with the vision to democratize chess and other STEM educations in order to improve diversity and inclusion in these fields.

FM Kevin Pan, Founder and President

Biography and Chess Achievements

International Chess Federation (FIDE) Master Kevin Pan is a top 10 ranked 16-year-old in the US.

  • 2018 National Elementary Champion and top 10 finish in 2019/2021 National Scholastic Championships

  • Captain of school team to represent US in World School Team Tournament as part of Dubai World Expo 2020.

  • National 3rd place, 2022 National K12 Quick Championship

  • 10-time California state champion

  • Member of US Chess All American Team in 2015 and qualified to represent USA in World Youth Championship many times.

  • Captain and led his school chess team to national team champion in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018!

  • Outside of chess, Kevin is a varsity tennis player and enjoys cooking, writing, programming and playing video games.


Kevin Pan teaching @ MSJE Chess

Volunteering Achievements

Kevin has been devoting his time and efforts to chess and STEM education since 2019.

  • Head coach of MSJ elementary school chess team (National team champion many times)

  • Senior coach for FemChess, aiming to remove gender disparity in chess

  • Math Olympiad coach

  • STEM subject tutors for disadvantaged kids

  • Teaching Assistant for Data Science in Action summer camp

  • President's Volunteering Service Gold Award in 2020 , 2021, 2022.





FM Eric Li, Founder and Vice President

Eric @ Scouting

Biography and Chess Achievements

International Chess Federation (FIDE) Master Eric Yuhan Li

  • US Chess Federation All-America Chess Team, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

  • Led the team and won 3rd place of 2019 US Amateur Team Championship-West

  • North American Youth Chess Championship, Silver Medalist, 2018

  • Pan American Youth Chess Championships, Gold Medalist, 2017

  • Pan American Youth Chess Blitz Championships, Silver Medalist, 2017

  • California and NJ Grade Champion, 2017, 2015

  • First place in the 51st Greater NY Scholastic Primary Championship sponsored by the Kasparov Chess Foundation, 2017 (link)

  • Qualified to represent USA in World Youth Championship many times

  • Achieved NM title at 10 and FM title at 12. FIDE peak rating over 2400 with two IM norm

  • Chess coach and volunteer for after-school program since 2021

  • Outside of chess, Eric enjoys boy scout activities, cooking, playing piano, soccer and basketball

WCM Ashley Pang, Vice President


  • Top 3 ranked 14-year-old female in the US.

  • 2018 World Cadets Chess Championship Bronze Medal

  • National Champion in the 2017 North American All Girls Championship,

  • North American Youth Champion 2016

  • State champion in the 2021 CalChess Women's State Championship.

  • Qualified to be on Team USA for the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021

  • One of top boards for school team to represent US in World School Team Tournament as part of Dubai World Expo 2020.

Aaron Xuli Dai, Resident Tournament Director



  • A high school sophomore and a US Chess Expert with peak rating of 2135.

  • Has been playing chess since he was 8 years old, and competitively since he was 9 years old.


He was introduced to chess after he moved from China to America, and his parents found a place for him on the weekends to play chess, and his interest in chess grew. He went to group lessons at a place in Saratoga, and started playing in tournaments.

Aaron has been working hard to become an experienced Tournament Director.